The first matings of males resulted in the transfer of large spermatophores, while subsequent matings resulted in smaller and eventually no spermatophore. The transfer of a spermatophore was not required to produce a normal number of fertile eggs. Some young males inseminated two females within 24 hours and regardless of whether or not a spermatophore was formed the number of resulting progeny was normal. Thus males were found to be capable of inseminating more females than the yield of spermatophores obtained by dissecting females indicated.

Virgin females increased in attractiveness with age at least until their fifth day.

Several of what may be a lengthy series of bark-beetle pheromones have recently been identified. The availability of these substances will provide new ways to control and manipulate populations. Some of the dangers inherent in the use of such chemicals, without adequate information on the biology, behavior, and genetics of the species to be manipulated, are discussed.

Dissections of larvae from a routine collection of European pine shoot moth (Rhyacionia buoliana (Schiffermüller)) made on 12 October 1965 in a small red pine plantation in Con. VII, Mills Twp., Manitoulin Island, Ont., revealed the presence of larvae of an unrecognized parasite in approximately 44% of the 103 living shoot moth larvae obtained. This compares favourably with rates of approximately 40% found by the author for Orgilus obscurator Nees, the most effective internal parasite of shoot moth in southern Ontario. No adults of the unrecognized parasite were obtained at that time, and because of severe winter kill of the shoot moth, none were obtained in a sample made in the following spring from the same plantation. However, shoot moth larvae obtained in a sample taken on 4 October 1966 yielded similar larvae on dissection, and rearings produced adult parasites which were identified by Dr. W. R. M. Mason, Entomology Research Institute, Canada Department of Agriculture, Ottawa, Ont., as Agathis binominata Muesebeck. According to Muesebeck et al. (1951), Krombein et al. (1967), and Yates (1967), the following species are hosts of this parasite: Coleophora laricella (Hübner), Epiblema desertana (Zeller) , Epinotia nanana (Treitschke) , Petrova comstockiana (Fernald), Phalonia rutilana (Hübner) , Pulicalvaria coniferella (Kearfott) , P. piceaella (Kearfott) , and Rhyacionia frustrana (Comstock). Its association with Rhyacionia buoliana apparently has not been recorded previously.

The pupal stage of the pales weevil, Hylobius pales (Herbst), is described with notes on distinguishing it from the pupa of Pachylobius picivorus Germar, together with a means for sexing pales weevil pupae.

Oviposition of the predacious mites Phytoseiulus persimilis and Typhlodromus fallacis began 2 days after mating, reached a peak in 1 week, and then declined irregularly. The rates of oviposition were higher, and the oviposition period shorter at 26° than at 20°C. P. persimilis laid 47% more eggs than T. fallacis. The generation time for both species was very dependent on temperature. Minimum values of 112 hours for P. persimilis and 127 hours for T. fallacis were obtained at 28°.

Calculations of potential predator populations from the generation time, age-specific fecundity, and proportion of females were made on a daily basis for successive generations. The potential number of living females derived from one mated pair increased logarithmically after a few cycles representing new generations. The rate of increase of P. persimilis populations was 26% higher than that of T. fallacis, and in both species the rate at 26° was about double the rate at 20°.

In nutritional studies with insects such as the pale western cutworm, Agrotis orthogonia Morr., large numbers of larvae must be fed and observed regularly in the laboratory. Moreover, because these insects are cannibalistic they must be reared in isolation. In our laboratory 60- by 15-mm petri dishes (Jacobson and Blakeley 1957) are used as rearing containers for this insect (Kasting and McGinnis 1967). Originally, petri dishes, containing a single insect, were stacked three deep in wooden trays. The trays, each holding 60 dishes, were then stacked to conserve space. Feeding and observation of the larvae, usually done at regular intervals, often daily, necessitated removing the dishes from the trays and spreading them on a bench.

A controlled environment cabinet for the study of insects or plant–insect interactions which has a novel air velocity control mechanism is described. The useful working space is 0.56 × 0.84 × 1.83 m long and the temperature in this area can be selected from 18° to 35°C at air velocities ranging from 1.5 to 18.0 km/hr. Fluorescent lamps provide a light intensity of 32,300 lm/m2, 0.32 m below the lamps.

Temperatures were controlled within ±0.67°C and the air velocity was uniform within 20% throughout the working area.

The life history of the Sitka spruce weevil, Pissodes sitchensis Hopk., is described. Adults overwinter in duff at the base of trees and emerge in April or early May. Oviposition begins in late April on leaders. The larvae hatch and mine downward, eventually girdling and killing the leader. Larvae pupate in chip cocoons under the bark. Newly developed adults start emerging in August and, prior to hibernation, feed on leaders of young trees. Adults have been observed in the field as late as December.

Predators caused heavy mortality but the weevil population maintained itself and increased in some years. Parasitism was light. Natural control factors reduced the population level but were incapable of controlling a population. Satisfactory control was obtained by applying DDT and phosphamidon to leaders with a hand-sprayer early in the spring, but repeated applications would be necessary to protect a plantation through the critical years.

Damage to Sitka spruce regeneration and plantations in British Columbia is severe. At present, protection of Sitka spruce plantations would require considerable expense.

Pleotrichophorus amsinckii described herein is a pale green, weakly pulverulent aphid that was found on a fiddleneck, Amsinckia intermedia Fisch. & Mey., in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia.

Studies on insect pests in cones of eastern larch, Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch, have revealed adelgids living inside many of the cones. Mr. G. R. Underwood of the Forest Research Laboratory, Fredericton, has identified them as Adelges strobilobius (Kalt). This is a new feeding site record, for normally this insect feeds on larch needles.

A sample of larvae submitted to us for identification on 22 November 1967 by Dr. C. Hutton, Director, Diagnostic Laboratories, Janeway Child Health Centre, St. John's, was determined as Anisopus fenestralis (Scopol.) by Dr. H. J. Teskey, Ottawa.

Monellia californica Essig is redescribed and transferred to Monelliopsis Richards. A key to the known species of Monelliopsis is offered and a lectotype established for californica.

Ochodaeus luscinus n. sp. is described from southern Alberta, British Columbia, and Utah. The new species is compared to closely related forms and to the other Canadian species.

The following new species of Apilocrocis Amsel are described: A. novateutonialis, Brazil and Bolivia; A. yucatanalis, Mexico; A. pseudocephalis, Mexico; A. steinbachi, Bolivia. The following species are transferred to Apilocrocis from Syllepte Hübner: S. excelsalis Schaus, S. glaucosia Hampson, S. albicupralis Hampson = S. mitanalis Schaus, new synonymy, S. cephalis (Walker) = Pilocrocis microbathra Meyrick, new synonymy, S. albipunctalis Hampson, S. brumalis Barnes and McDunnough, S. pimalis Barnes and Benjamin. A key to these 11 species is given.

Cryptolestes turcicus (Grouvelle), an insect pest of flour mills and warehouses, is distributed in Canada from Alberta to Quebec (Sinha 1965). Barker (1967) showed a difference in susceptibility to methyl bromide between two strains of C. turcicus; one of these was from the Pest Infestation Laboratory, Slough, England, and the other was from a local flour mill. A fortuitous observation suggested that there might be a difference between the reproductive capacities of these two strains. A randomized block design experiment was designed to test this hypothesis. Reproduction was observed in three sets of beetles differing in population density; each set was replicated four times.